Climate - Internet-based universal drug prevention

CLIMATE Schools:

Internet-based universal drug prevention programs for secondary school students

Dr Nicola Newton, Prof Maree Teesson, Dr Laura Vogl,

and Prof Gavin Andrews.

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre,

University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

School-based universal drug prevention

• Effective ingredients (Tobler et al., 2000):

• Social influence approach• Drug refusal skills• Generic competency skills• Interactive delivery

• Obstacles to implementation and dissemination:• 14% correct content and delivery (Ennett et al., 2003)• Insufficient resources• Lack of teacher training• Adaptation of programs

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Innovative new platform of delivery

Internet-based Easy to implement Curriculum-based Interactive Age and context appropriate Harm-minimisation goal Reinforcement through booster sessions

• Climate Schools modules – 6 lessons• 15 minutes of computerized cartoons• 25 minutes class activities

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Alcohol Module

Increases in alcohol knowledge

Decreases in alcohol use

Less alcohol related harms

Vogl, L. et al. (2009). A computerized harm minimization prevention program for alcohol misuse and related harms: RCT. Addiction, 104, 564-575.

Newton, N. et al. (2009). Climate Schools: Alcohol module: Cross-validation of a school-based prevention program for alcohol misuse. ANZJP, 43, 204-207.

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Alcohol and Cannabis Module

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Alcohol and Cannabis Module

• 6 lessons of…

– 15 mins internet cartoons– 25 mins class activities

• Assertion skills• Calling for assistance• Recovery position• Decision making• Group discussions

• Covering…

– Alcohol guidelines and laws– Normative use– Short & long term risks– Influences of media / peers – Refusal and minimization

skills– Staying safe & first aid

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

A few minutes pass…..

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Study design

• 764 Yr 8 students (13yrs) from 10 Sydney schools• Control schools (N=5, n=367; 65% male)• Intervention schools (N=5, n=397; 55% male)

• Measures • Alcohol - knowledge, av. consumption, binging, attitudes• Cannabis - knowledge, freq. use, attitudes

Pre (n=764)100%

CLIMATE: Alcohol

CLIMATE: Alcohol & Cannabis

Post (n=444)

58%

6 mth FU (n=630)

82%

12 mth FU (n=606)

79%

CONTROL X X X X

CLIMATE X X X X X X

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Pre → post : sig. p < .001, Climate > ControlPre → 6mth: sig. p < .001, Climate > ControlPre → 12mth: sig. p < .001, Climate > Control

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Pre → post : not sig. Pre → 6mth: sig. p < .05, Control > ClimatePre → 12mth: sig. p < .01, Control > Climate

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Pre → post : not sig.Pre → 6mth: not sig.Pre → 12mth: sig. p < .05, Control > Climate

Pre → post : sig. p < .001, Climate > ControlPre → 6mth: sig. p < .001, Climate > ControlPre → 12mth: sig. p < .001, Climate > Control

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Pre → post : not sig.Pre → 6mth: sig. p < .05, Control > ClimatePre → 12mth: not sig.

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Evaluation

• Student responses (n=98):

93% - cartoons were appropriate and enjoyable.

85% - would use the information in their own lives.

• Teacher responses (n=12):

91% - meets outcomes of the syllabus.

92% - students liked the program.

72% - endorsed the course as better than others.

75% - would use in the future and recommend it.

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Climate Schools: Summary

overcomes obstacles to implementation.

effective in increasing knowledge and decreasing use of alcohol and cannabis.

acceptable to students and teachers.

promising framework for drug prevention.

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention

Newton, N. et al. (in press). Internet-based prevention for alcohol and cannabis use: Final results of the Climate Schools course. Addiction, Accepted, 22nd October 2009. Newton, N. et al. (2009). Delivering school-based prevention for alcohol and cannabis using the internet: A cluster randomised controlled trial. Preventive Medicine, 48,579-584.

Acknowledgements

• Animators and programmers - Big Q Productions, Simtrek, and Netfront• Sydney Independent Schools - teachers and students

Funding thanks to…

• Australian Education and Rehabilitation Foundation• Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing• Australian Research Council• National Health and Medical Research Council

Email: nickien@unsw.edu.au

Website: www.climateschools.tv

Climate Schools: Internet-based universal drug prevention